Princess Mononoke Analysis

Entry 17: A Curse, A Disability, or Something Else (Days 26-30)

Princess Mononoke (1997) is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most imaginative pieces. The movie is set in Japan during the time of the samurais but incorporates fantastical elements, creating a moving story. Such a movie, running at 2 hours 13 minutes, exhibits many different themes both prominent and subtle. At the beginning, Ashitaka, the elk-riding protagonist, slays a demon-possessed hog and as a result becomes cursed. On his arm he receives a sinister-looking scar. He is then sent on a journey in order to heal his curse. Throughout the movie, Ashitaka’s curse becomes a disability that impedes his process. In spite of these challenges, Ashitaka still manages to fulfill his goal in much the same manner that a person with a disability moves through life.
           

In his village, Ashitaka is a beloved prince. Upon the unveiling of his curse, the villagers are dismayed: now his life is in danger due to his contact with the hog. The oracle of the village tells Ashitaka he must set forth on a journey to rid himself of his scar.  Though this theme is common in fantasy stories, this particular storyline resonates with themes relating to disability. When Ashitaka leaves on his elk Yakul in the dead of night, his little sister Kaya hands him a crystal dagger, a token of her love; despite his partial transformation, she still views him as her brother. The villagers still view him as their fellow. While he retains the respect of his fellow tribespeople, Ashitaka is pitied and viewed with a misguided disgust on account of his injury. He leaves of his own accord but at the same time feels communal pressure to leave. In a similar manner, living with a disability – once it is known – often results in being perceived in a completely different manner; one retains one’s individuality but is simultaneously viewed with doubts and a separate set of perceptions.

One scene later in the movie better displays the reaction of others to his condition. When Eboshi, the leader of the ironworks community,  proudly displays the guns made by her people, Ashitaka’s arm spasms; he has great difficulty not pulling his sword out of its scabbard. Gonza, the guard captain, becomes alarmed and is about to disarm Ashitaka when Eboshi stops him. Ashitaka’s condition leads him to act in a manner perceived as dangerous to those around him, despite having no control over his arm at that moment. At that moment the bedridden Osa - one of the bandaged ones lying in the room - tells his story about being helped by Lady Eboshi despite being cursed. Lady Eboshi, though she seems purely Machiavellian, seems to have an ability to look – at least superficially – past being cursed or disabled. Being disabled leads to special treatment but does not make a person fundamentally different. If anything, having a serious condition greatly adds to a person’s life experiences and is an extension of their being, not something inherently terrible.

           

Ashitaka’s curse, which carries an infamous public presence, is a more subtle evil when he is alone. Just after leaving the village, he fights a swarm of samurai operating on behalf of their feudal lord. During this battle he loses control of his arm and stops being able to aim his bow. Ashitaka grows frustrated and is forced to evade the soldiers. After wandering through the woods he manages to find a pond. He quickly dismounts Yakul and submerges and holds his writhing arm in the cool water.  This ritual is performed again when Ashitaka reaches a large creek near the forest of the Deer God. These examples portray his attempts to overcome his temporary weakness. For the most part, Ashitaka is at face-value powerful young man capable of knocking out both Lady Eboshi and Princess Mononoke one after the other. Almost immediately afterwards he is struck by a bullet and badly wounded. This time Mononoke was forced to submerge Ashitaka in the water in the forest so that his strength could be replenished. While in the presence of Mononoke, Ashitaka has difficulty sleeping. Ashitaka, though he fights well against his enemies, is knocked out and winds up in the Deer God’s pond. Despite his continuous appearance of not needing help, Ashitaka was steadily succumbing to the curse and required the Deer God’s help. For a person with disability weakness can be growing stronger, even as that person appears totally fine. The help of others is still acceptable and even required at times.

From here on, the movie shifts away from an emphasis on violence and more upon returning the Deer God’s head and restoring the balance. Together they risk being cursed further as they left the head up. With his head reattached the Deer God manages to heal everything around him. In particular, Ashitaka’s curse dissipates, leaving only a faint scar. Ashitaka and those who supported him both manage to bring a noble ending to the petty human destruction of the environment. Rather than be defeated by his curse, Ashitaka rose above and through his curse stumbled upon those people that would help him along his journey.

Ultimately, Princess Mononoke is a story about perseverance and not giving up. Such themes are oft hackneyed and quite ubiquitous. In Ashitaka’s tale, however, his curse dwindles his strength but at the same time give him reason to complete his journey, rather than simply let his life be consumed. Ashitaka also manages to befriend Princess Mononoke, who at the  beginning of the story emphatically claimed she hated humans. Similarly, living with a disability involves an arduous journey through which valuable experiences are earned; such a journey is not inherently negative. Being disabled or cursed comprises a person’s total sense of being.